Drawing Manga in a Romance Fantasy

Chapter 178

“Your Highness, this is something I researched and developed specifically for Rupert. Asking me to reveal its details, even as a prince, is a disrespectful request.”

Zinnia responded coldly to Edric, who had come to her demanding information about the new golem.

‘Third Prince Edric. According to public opinion, before the Crown Prince changed, he was rumored to be the strongest contender for the throne.’

She recalled the information she knew about Edric, who was now standing before her.

A genius in swordsmanship, the empire’s most handsome man, and the hope of the royal family.

Edric was called by many titles, and honestly, he looked exactly like the prince Zinnia had imagined while reading fairy tales in her childhood.

Not only did he have the noble status of a prince, but his exceptional swordsmanship made him unmatched not only among his peers but even among the royal knights—a true genius.

On top of that, Edric’s striking looks earned him the title of the most handsome man in the empire, rivaling even the princess, who was often referred to as the Empire’s Flower.

Because of these qualities, there had been rumors that he would succeed the throne when the previous Crown Prince, Alex, had fallen out of favor.

‘Could he be trying to use this new golem to claim power again?’

Zinnia couldn’t shake off her unease about Edric seeking her out for information about the new golem.

After all, the reason she created the new golem was to support Rupert.

But contrary to her original intentions, the golem she developed turned out to be far too advanced.

‘If this is weaponized, it could become a tool of mass destruction.’

Of course, even if she shared the information, the new golem wouldn’t be easy to mass-produce. However, if Edric managed to create even a slightly inferior version, there was no telling what he might do with it.

For that reason, Zinnia had no choice but to respond sharply to Edric’s request.

She absolutely did not want her new golem to be used for political purposes.

“I’m aware that this is an unreasonable request,” Edric said, surprising Zinnia, who had expected him to be offended by her sharp words.

“But I have a dream I desperately want to achieve.”

“May I ask what that dream is?”

“It may sound sudden and strange, but it’s for someone I love.”

“Someone you love…?”

Zinnia involuntarily repeated his words, caught off guard by his unexpected response.

Edric simply nodded in silence.

‘Those aren’t the eyes of a liar.’

Zinnia’s Dragonea lineage, with its dormant dragon blood, allowed her to distinguish truth from lies.

And Edric’s eyes, gazing at her now, shone with nothing but sincerity.

“…Sigh. I know I shouldn’t, but I’ll at least listen. What exactly do you want to know?”

“The mechanical doll—or rather, the new golem—I saw in Krune’s workshop could talk.”

“Yes. While I didn’t program it myself, it was designed to learn and adapt through experience.”

“Then… is it possible to create a specific personality?”

“A personality?”

Zinnia paused, momentarily puzzled by the unexpected question.

The new golem she created was indeed capable of learning and becoming more human-like over time.

But whether that could be classified as a personality—and whether a specific personality could be intentionally created—was an entirely different matter.

“To give you a direct answer, it’s possible, but nearly impossible.”

“Could you explain what you mean by that?”

“Creating a specific personality—let’s say one exactly like mine—would depend entirely on chance.”

Zinnia used her desk as an example.

“Can you make a desk identical to this one?”

“Isn’t that obviously possible?”

“Yes, you could match the appearance. But would the wood grain and every tiny detail be exactly the same?”

“Well…”

“For there to be two identical desks, there would need to be two trees that grew at the exact same speed, size, and structure. And that’s simply impossible.”

At first, Edric struggled to grasp her explanation, but soon he began to understand what she meant.

“So it’s easy to replicate the exterior, but impossible to recreate what’s inside.”

“Exactly. Just like how even identical twins are ultimately different people.”

Hearing Zinnia’s response, Edric’s expression darkened.

It was as if a prisoner who had glimpsed a ray of light was being dragged back into a dark underground cell.

But unwilling to give up just yet, Edric asked again.

“Then why did you say it’s not entirely impossible? Based on what you’ve told me, it sounds absolutely impossible.”

“It’s not entirely impossible because there is, in fact, a theoretical method,” Zinnia replied, as though she had anticipated Edric’s follow-up question.

“I mentioned earlier that identical trees don’t exist, didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did.”

“But what if the number of trees approached infinity?”

“Infinity?”

“If humans could increase the numbers beyond count, then the probability wouldn’t be zero—it would rise, little by little.”

Even as Zinnia spoke, she found the notion absurd.

It was an idea that only worked in theory, an abstract concept rooted in mathematics rather than reality.

“With infinite energy and consciousness, it wouldn’t be impossible to create the personality you’re asking for—but in practical terms, it’s as good as impossible.”

Zinnia deliberately explained this in detail to dissuade Edric from pursuing the idea.

However—

“What do you mean by infinite energy and consciousness? Could you give an example?”

Rather than looking discouraged, Edric’s eyes lit up as though he had glimpsed a sliver of hope.

“Your Highness! Haven’t you understood what I—”

“I understand perfectly. That’s why I need you to tell me.”

Zinnia was taken aback by Edric’s reaction. If he had truly understood her explanation, this response shouldn’t have been possible.

But faced with Edric’s utterly serious expression, she had no choice but to let out a sigh and continue.

“Infinite energy can’t even be supplied by the highest-grade mana stones. It would require something like a Dragon Heart.”

The essence of mana and the source of power for dragons—creatures closest to gods and the pinnacle of existence.

Even Zinnia, who had inherited a fraction of that power through her Dragonea lineage, knew that only a Dragon Heart could provide the infinite energy required.

“And as for infinite consciousness… This is a secret, but the new golem uses spirits. Basic learning functions can be achieved with lower- or mid-tier spirits, but…”

An endless, near-infinite trial-and-error process wasn’t something ordinary spirits could handle.

“You would need the consciousness of a Spirit King—one known as the ruler of all spirits.”

Even as she said it, Zinnia couldn’t help but scoff at herself.

A Dragon Heart and a Spirit King.

Either one appearing in the world would shake the entire continent.

And yet, gathering both? Not even the Emperor could achieve such a feat.

“Haha… It’s completely absurd.”

Edric burst into laughter, as if finding the explanation ridiculous.

“Exactly. That’s why I said it’s impossible.”

“It’s the kind of task worth betting my life on.”

“What?”

Zinnia blinked in disbelief, but Edric didn’t answer. He simply gazed out the window.

‘As long as the probability isn’t zero, it’s enough. Elsa, I can keep my promise to you.’

Edric didn’t despair over Zinnia’s explanation.

For what he sought, even the slimmest chance was enough.

It didn’t matter if the odds were so low they were practically impossible.

A task like that was precisely what made it worth staking his life on.

“Why are you so determined to do this?”

Unable to suppress her curiosity any longer, Zinnia finally asked.

She couldn’t understand why Edric was willing to dedicate his life to chasing something as unattainable as a Dragon Heart and a Spirit King—especially when even that might not be enough.

“There’s someone I need to meet.”

“Then… why don’t you just go to her directly?”

“She doesn’t exist in this world. This is the only way I can see her again.”

“….”

Zinnia found herself at a loss for words as she stared at Edric’s expression.

Once again, his eyes betrayed no hint of deceit—only raw, unfiltered truth.

‘She doesn’t exist in this world? Could it be…!’

At last, Zinnia felt like she understood why Edric was so fixated on this impossible pursuit.

‘A lover? Did he lose someone he truly loved?’

She guessed that Edric’s obsession with creating a personality in the new golem was his attempt to resurrect someone dear to him.

Nothing else could explain his near-manic desperation.

‘Just how deeply must he have loved her to do this?’

As she looked into Edric’s melancholy eyes, Zinnia couldn’t even begin to imagine the depth of his feelings.

Would she have acted the same if Rupert died?

The thought alone was enough to make her heart ache.

Suddenly, Edric seemed different to her.

‘I never imagined he was capable of such unwavering devotion.’

Whoever the woman he loved was, Zinnia couldn’t help but envy her.

“…Fine. I’ll help you. It’s completely absurd, but…”

“Really?!”

“Even if you gather those materials, only my master or I could make use of them anyway.”

“Thank you!”

Watching Edric’s face light up as if he had discovered treasure, Zinnia couldn’t help but feel resigned.

‘For love, I suppose.’

Seeing Edric’s devotion to his lost lover, Zinnia couldn’t bring herself to turn him away.